Through Her Heart (Mind's Eye Book 6)

by Deborah Camp

  He tore his mouth from her breast to take the other one. Her released nipple throbbed along with the rest of her, stinging from the loss of his rough caresses. She rode him, rising up and slamming down as she grasped his shoulders for balance. His mouth moved from her breast to the side of her neck, sucking, tonguing, biting her. For a few blistering seconds, their eyes met. His were half-lidded, gleaming in the lamplight, intense and smoldering. Whatever he saw in her eyes gained her a feral smile and a grind of his hips that set off fireworks inside her.

  “You beautiful fucking witch,” he rasped as his fingers dug into her hips, holding her tightly against him. “You bring me inside you and fucking own me.”

  “I’m close,” she murmured, centered on her own shattering need. “So close. Move. I need it harder, Levi. Harder!”

  “Come here.” He wrapped her in his embrace and stood, then walked to the bed and placed her there. Shedding his clothes in a blur of motion, he then gripped her knees and bent them back toward her chest. “Harder,” he said with a half-smile. “I can do harder.” Then he went at her, his hips undulating as he drove his cock into her again and again.

  Trudy sucked in her breath and her lungs burned. He showed no mercy and she loved him for it. The friction of their bodies fanned hot sparks through her as she grunted with each of his powerful thrusts while her body tightened like a watch spring.

  He worked up a sweat and her hands slipped off his shoulders to grasp the writhing muscles in his upper arms. A man possessed, he stared at where their bodies joined and increased the tempo until they were both panting, clutching, and burning up. She tipped over first, falling into sweet oblivion as her thoughts shattered and her heartbeats boomed in her ears like cannon fire. He followed, a low bellow emanating from him as he gyrated against her. His head fell forward and he squeezed his eyes shut as he released in her. A long sigh whistled past his lips. He shook his head and one corner of his mouth angled up.

  “That’s one way to slay the dragon.”

  She laughed as her inner walls undulated around his cock. “What does that mean?”

  “It means that you’ve conquered me. Defeated my demons. Stormed my walls once again.” He opened his eyes to show her that the shadows were gone. “My fair lady.”

  She lifted her hand to caress his damp brow and he turned his face into her palm in a gesture so tender it stole her breath. He moved slightly and she tensed.

  “Don’t leave me yet,” she whispered. “I love when we’re together like this.”

  “My Tru.” He nuzzled her chin, kissed under her ear. “So do I. Will it still be like this when we’re . . . parents?”

  “Yes, this has nothing to do with that.” She made him look into her eyes. “You must never doubt that you are my first and mightiest love, Levi. First and forever. I could have ten children and it wouldn’t change. Wouldn’t change that when you touch me, I melt. That when you kiss me, I crave. That when you enter me, I’m completed.” She was surprised when his eyes misted, but wasn’t when hers did.

  “That’s good to know because I think we just made a baby.”

  She gasped, not expecting him to say anything remotely like that. He gasped back at her in a comical imitation.

  “Why are you so shocked? This is how babies are made.”

  “Yes, but . . .” She swallowed and grappled for words. “I just . . . that’s sweet of you to say.”

  He shrugged and slipped out of her with a long, satisfied sigh. “Just felt like the boys were raring to go. Like they were determined to bust through.”

  “You’re so full of it,” she said, laughing under her breath. “Oh, wait!” She clutched her middle and widened her eyes. “I think they just stormed the defenses! They’ve planted the flag!”

  Chuckling, he rolled to her, flinging an arm around her waist and hauling her against him. “Told you.”

  “Yeah, yeah. I’ve thought that almost every time we’ve made love lately.”

  “I haven’t. Until now.”

  She slid her eyes sideways, expecting to see his smirk and she wasn’t disappointed. So she kicked him.

  “Hey!” He inched away from her. “What’s that for?”

  She bobbed her shoulders. “Just trying to get another rise out of you.” It was her turn to smirk.

  “Oh? Want to slay more dragons?” He fell onto his back, sprawled like a bear rug. “You know what to do to make that happen, baby.” He folded his hands behind his head, all smiles.

  She grasped him and licked the tip of his cock, making him jerk. His eyelids drifted down until the curtain of his lashes dusted his cheeks. It wasn’t long before she found the steel in his sword again.

  Chapter 13

  Trying to imagine herself living peacefully in the former “Tucker” house was difficult for Trudy, what with the hammering, banging, whirring saws and drills, and a seven-year-old boy riding his electric scooter from room to room. She was trying to keep her sanity while Levi was definitely in his element.

  Standing in the kitchen, he delivered instructions to a couple of men who were adding pull-outs and pop-ups to the cabinets and countertops. She assumed that the workers were being paid double their usual rate since it was Sunday. She hadn’t said anything about that to Levi because she knew he was having crews in during the weekend so that the house would be ready for them to move into before Christmas.

  Trudy was dazzled by the beauty of the home, thinking every bit of it was near perfection. Levi, however, with his “construction eye” saw imperfection and overflowed with ideas to make the everything better and more energy efficient. Solar panels were added to the roof and the whole place was being completely rewired. With each addition and rehabbing idea, Trudy balked but to no avail. Mr. Wolfe Enterprises, Inc. went right ahead and signed work orders and product lists.

  “Trudy. You listening?”

  She blinked away her stupor and realized that Levi had been talking to her. “Uh. No. But I am now.”

  “Liam the landscaper is outside and needs to know if he can cut down some bushes out back. Some kind of flowering things that I know nothing about. Also, they are getting ready to clear a space for a helicopter pad back there and that means some trees are going to have to be cut down. A couple of the smaller ones can be replanted, but you need to tell them where you want them.”

  “Liam? Helicopter pad? We don’t have a helicopter, do we?”

  He placed a hand on her shoulder. His smile was sweetly indulgent. “No, but we will have one soon enough. Now, don’t flip your lid, baby. This will make my commute so much easier. Liam is the landscaper. He’s the giant out there with the red, bushy beard. Can’t miss him.”

  “Oh.” She sighed and reached out to snag Stuart by the back of his shirt as he sped past her on the scooter. “Hold up there, rocket man. I’m going outside and you’re going with me with that thing. You shouldn’t be riding it in here.”

  Stuart aimed the scooter for the back mud room and he was off with Trudy in his wake. Outside, she located Liam easily as he stood a foot taller than everyone else and his flaming hair and beard were like beacons. Trudy held out her hand to him.

  “Hello, I’m Trudy Wolfe. Levi said you needed some answers from me about shrubbery and trees.” She glanced over her shoulder, keeping an eye on Stuart. “Stu, you ride around on our property on the paths, but stay out of the workers’ way. Understood?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he called to her, giving her a thumbs-up sign.

  “Good to meet you, Mrs. Wolfe,” Liam said, a big smile dividing his mustache from his beard. “We gingers have to stick together, right-oh?”

  She smiled. “Right-oh.”

  “The shrubs your mister was talking about are these azalea bushes here along the pool barrier. He said to yank them, but my thinking was to ask you first, seeing as they’re plenty handsome in the spring.” A trace of an Irish accent colored his words.

  “Yes, they’re lovely. We should keep them. Maybe trim them up a little, though
. They’re overgrown.”

  “They definitely are and we’ll be happy to do that, ma’am. Now about the trees . . . if you’ll come this way.” He guided her farther back on the property, past the swimming pool and a pond. “The plan is to put the helicopter pad out there.” He motioned to trees that separated the small pond from the larger one. “Some of the trees are young enough that we can move them. There’s a young elm and a couple of dogwoods and one redbud.”

  “Yes, we should place them elsewhere on the property,” Trudy agreed. “I think the dogwoods and redbud could go in the front yard and the elm could go at the back of the property.”

  Liam nodded. “Exactly my thinking on it, ma’am. Over there . . .” He pointed east to another huge tree. “That there one is dying – it’s a Chinese elm – and the one next to it is a sweetgum, very messy tree, that one. We should take them both out, I reckon. What say you, madam?”

  “I say, chop them down,” Trudy agreed with a grin. “We are of one mind, Liam.”

  “That we are.” He chuckled and scratched at his beard. “That’s all for now. I’ll get the men to grab their gear and have at it.”

  Trudy left him to it and went in search of Stuart. Keeping up with him was exhausting. He seemed to be in constant motion, checking out everything on the property, and asking a jillion questions. He’d chosen the bedroom he wanted when they’d first arrived at the house that morning. The one he liked was down the hall from their master suite – in the same wing, but enough space between them to allow for privacy. Both Levi and Trudy had approved.

  Stuart had decided he wanted blue and silver as the main colors in his room and he wanted to bring items from his bedroom at his former residence to this one. So, they’d made a trip to the storage center where some of the McFarland property had been taken. Rummaging through the bins, Stuart had salvaged a big box of items he wanted in his new room. He’d also gathered up some photos of his parents and his school photographs. Levi had fastened his scooter and bike to the top of the car. Sorting through the things had dampened Stuart’s mood, which didn’t surprise Trudy as it had depressed her a little, as well. But once he’d jumped on his scooter and raced from room to room, his mood had lightened again.

  Walking to the front of the house, she spotted Stuart buzzing along the path that led to the front gates that were open to allow landscaping and other work trucks inside. Trudy quickened her pace and called out to him to wait for her. He did, but didn’t seem happy about it.

  “What are you frowning at?” she teased him as she approached. “I just want to tell you that we’ll be wrapping up here soon and heading back to the apartment so that Levi and I can get ready for the party and concert. We’ll drop you at Wes and Mya’s on the way.”

  “They only have girls.”

  “Yes, but the girls play video games and table tennis. You’ll have fun there.”

  He shrugged, obviously unconvinced. “It’s just for one night, right?”

  “Yes. Wes will bring you with him Monday morning when he comes to work.” She moved closer to place her arm around his shoulders and hugged him. “Will you miss me?” she teased him, giving him a loud smack on his cheek. “I’ll miss you, Stewie.” She giggled when his face reddened. “Am I embarrassing you, sweet boy?”

  “A little,” he grumbled, pulling away from her and glancing around to be sure none of the men saw them.

  “Okay, okay.” She released him and surveyed the area, but none of the workers were paying them any mind. Stuart turned his scooter around and zoomed off from her, back toward the house. As Trudy started to turn in that direction, movement caught her eye and she looked through the gates to the street.

  A white pickup truck came around the corner, slowed, and then sped away, the engine roaring. The driver’s face was visible for an instant before it became a blur of movement, but in that frozen moment Trudy stared at evil, personified. The gaunt face, almost skeletal, and the piercing, deep-set eyes, and that wide slash of a mouth. Panic pierced her heart and she instinctively spun around, seeking Stuart. He had stopped his scooter and was staring at her, his face wan, his blue eyes wide with fear.

  “Stuart!” She ran to him and wrapped him in her embrace, then dragged him with her toward the house, his scooter abandoned in her panic.

  “He was there,” the boy whispered. “He was t-there!”

  Trudy ran along the path to the front door, dodging vehicles and workers. She pulled Stuart with her into the house. Stopping in the foyer, she stared at the panel by the door. Still unfamiliar with it, she had to concentrate to recall which button to press that would close the gates. She pushed the one with a G on it and hoped she was right.

  “Levi!” she shouted. “Levi!” The pounding of feet echoed off the walls as Levi ran from the back of the house to the front. His athletic shoes squeaked on the marble floor as he ground to a stop and stared at her. “He was out there,” she gasped out. “The man w-who . . .” She hugged Stuart to her again. “He was out in front of the house.”

  “Jesus!” Levi bounded to the door, his face full of thunder and his eyes glowing with hatred.

  “He’s gone now. I think I closed and locked the gates.” She stared at the panel. “Did I?”

  “Stay here. I’ll be right back.” Levi ran outside, grabbing his cell phone from his back pocket as he went.

  He’s calling Gonzo, Trudy thought. Then the police. She eased Stuart away from her and ran her hands over his soft, brown hair. Pink color stained his cheeks now and his eyes weren’t as wide and full of fear as before.

  “It’s okay, Stewie,” she whispered, then leaned down a little to look him squarely in the face. “You felt him? How?”

  He lifted a hand and brushed the back of it over his eyes. “I went cold inside. Like that night. That’s how he feels. Cold. Like ice in my heart.” He rubbed the center of his small chest and sniffed.

  Trudy nodded. “Good. That’s good. You’ll know when he’s around. When you feel that, you must tell us immediately. Understand? If we’re not with you, then you tell a teacher or another adult. Someone you trust.” She pressed her hand to his chest. “Feeling him like that is your protection, Stuart. Don’t ever doubt your feelings. I’ve had to learn to do that from Levi. I used to doubt what I felt or try to explain it away. But we must trust our feelings, Stuart. They are true and they will never steer you wrong.” She realized she was trembling inside and took a couple of deep breaths to steady herself. The memory of that man’s face burned behind her eyelids. Such malice! And how did he find them?

  Levi strode in, his face set in grave lines and the muscle in his jawline ticking away. “You saw him?”

  “Yes.” She glanced at Stuart. “Stewie felt him.”

  Levi’s gaze snapped to the boy. “You felt him, did you?”

  “He said that he gets an icy feeling in his chest when that man is nearby. He got the same feeling that night.”

  Levi’s gaze flicked to hers before returning to Stuart. He rested his hands on the boy’s shoulders. “Stuart, we’re going to have a longer talk soon about that night. But, for now, the man is gone and everyone is on high alert. I called Detective Myers and let him know about it. He wants you to call him, Trudy, and give him a description.”

  “I’ve seen him before,” she said, quietly to Levi.

  “Where?”

  “Mug shot,” she mouthed. “Tell you later.” She patted his arm. “You stick with Stuart while I call the detective.” She moved away from them, walking into what would be the library/study but was now an empty room with built-in bookshelves. She retrieved her phone from her jacket pocket and punched in the number. It rang once and was answered by Myers.

  “Did you get a good look at him?” Myers asked after greeting her.

  “It was Ike Lincoln. But in the photo he had longish hair and a drooping kind of mustache, but now he has no facial hair and a crewcut. He was driving a white Chevy pickup. The one I told you about seeing during that home invasion. Rem
ember?”

  “Sure do. He’s one we had under surveillance, but he gave us the slip a few days ago. You think he followed you to your new place?”

  “I have no idea. We had security traveling ahead of us and behind us, so if he did, he was slick about it. We’ve been here for a couple of hours and he just now drove by, so I don’t think he followed us. He somehow knew where we were relocating.”

  “I’d like to say that would be hard to do, but I’d be lying. Real estate records are easy peasy to find. I’m wondering how he knew that he had . . . oh, wait. You announced that you had a foster child on the Sissy Franklin Show, didn’t you?”

  “I didn’t. Sissy Franklin did. Neither Levi nor I were pleased about it, either.”

  “He watched the show,” Myers said. “Most cons and ex-cons watch all the crime and police shows. It’s like reunions to them. They see their former prison and jailbird pals.” His chuckle was dark and humorless.

  “He’s looking for Stuart,” she said, the truth of that landing on her like an anvil. She felt sick with panic. “Oh, my god! He’s after Stuart!”

  “Probably. Calm down, now. I’ve already put out a bulletin and cops all over Atlanta are looking for that truck of his. When we find it, we’ll bring him in for questioning.”

  “But you can’t hold him. You can’t charge him with anything.”

  “Not yet. He wasn’t trespassing. We have no proof he robbed any residence. You’ve only seen him, other than today, in your head. Can’t arrest him for any of that, as you well know. Now, if young Stuart can identify him, we can and we will lock him up.”

  She was quiet, dread seeping through her. If only, she thought, but she wasn’t about to press Stuart now, not when he was still trembling from the encounter. “We’ll talk to him, but not now. He’s upset. I need to calm him down, not make it worse for him.”

  “Sure, sure. But if he can ever help, we’d appreciate it.”